Department for Transport

Railways: Capital Investment

lord alton of liverpool: To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer byBaroness Sugg on 2 April (HL14685), of the £48 billion committed to investment in the rail network during Control Period 6, how much is fornew (1) infrastructure, and (2) rolling stock; and what is the planned investment in HS2and Northern Powerhouse Rail during the same period.

baroness vere of norbiton: The £48bn Control Period 6 funding settlement for the railway that Government announced in 2017 makes provision for the operation, maintenance and renewal of rail infrastructure between 2019 and 2024. It includes a £10.4bn provision for infrastructure enhancement projects. This is on top of new rolling stock, which is procured via separate arrangements. High Speed 2 (HS2) has a long-term funding envelope of £55.7bn (2015 prices). It is this government’s largest capital programme and the benefits are largely for the North. The Government has committed £52m to continue to develop Northern Powerhouse Rail (NPR) this year. Decisions on future investment will be considered in the Spending Review. We are working with Transport for the North on their plans for NPR. The full benefits of NPR can only be achieved by integrating it with HS2 and given the status of the projects NPR needs HS2 to be built first.

Department of Health and Social Care

Primodos

lord alton of liverpool: To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made, if any, of the accusations made by Professor Carl Heneghan of the University of Oxford and reported by Sky News on 5 April that a study on Primodos overseen by the Medical and Healthcare products Regulation Agency failed to properly assess the risks of that drug; and that meta-analysis results were left out of the final report.

lord alton of liverpool: To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made, if any, of reports by Sky News on 5 April that UK regulators in the 1970s destroyed evidence that suggested an association between the use of Primodos and birth defects.

baroness blackwood of north oxford: The review of Hormone Pregnancy Tests undertaken by the Commission on Human Medicines Expert Working Group (EWG) was comprehensive, scientifically robust and independent. All evidence considered by the EWG has been published online.The EWG examined a large number of studies, including all those in Professor Heneghan’s published meta-analysis, and for scientific reasons considered that meta-analysis was not an appropriate way to analyse the data. The rationale of the EWG is clearly documented in the minutes of the meetings and in the final report, both of which have been available online since November 2017.The terms of reference of the EWG did not include investigation of any historical regulatory failings. The Government awaits the outcome of the Independent Medicines and Medical Devices Safety Review led by Baroness Cumberlege, which is expected to examine the procedures followed in the case of Primodos and to make recommendations.

Skin Diseases: Diagnosis

lord clark of windermere: To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have to improve GPs' diagnostic skills for skin conditions.

baroness blackwood of north oxford: The Royal College of General Practitioners’ curriculum includes a module on the care of people with skin problems. This sets out the knowledge and skills a general practitioner should have in the diagnosis and management of skin conditions relevant to their role as generalist, community-based doctors, including the diagnostic investigations, such as blood and immunological testing to needed to support a diagnosis.Once fully qualified, clinicians are responsible for ensuring their own clinical knowledge remains up-to-date and for identifying learning needs as part of their continuing professional development. This activity should include taking account of new research and developments in guidance, such as that produced by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE). NICE has published a clinical guideline on the diagnosis and treatment of number of common skin conditions, such as psoriasis and eczema. The guidance is routinely reviewed to ensure it reflects the latest available, including around diagnostic approaches.The British Association of Dermatologists also continues to produce a range toolkits and guidance for health professionals.

Dermatology: Training

lord clark of windermere: To ask Her Majesty's Government what discussions they have had with Health Education England on increasing the number of training places for dermatology students.

baroness blackwood of north oxford: The number of medical specialty training places that are available each year in England is set by Health Education England (HEE) and is based on their assessment of service gaps and predicted workforce needs.There are programmes of work underway as part of the development of a workforce implementation plan, which the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care has commissioned Baroness Dido Harding, Chair of NHS Improvement, working closely with Sir David Behan, Chair of Health Education England, to oversee. These programmes will consider detailed proposals to grow the workforce, including consideration of additional staff in speciality fields, build a supportive working culture in the NHS and ensure first rate leadership for National Health Service staff. Baroness Harding will present initial recommendations to the Department in spring 2019.The Department has not held specific discussions with HEE on increasing the number of training places for dermatology students. There has been a 100% fill rate in dermatology training in England for the past six years.Dermatologist education and training and recruitment in Wales, Northern Ireland and Scotland is a matter for the devolved administrations.

Air Pollution: Children

the earl of listowel: To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the (1) short-term, and (2) long-term, risks of air pollution to children's health.

baroness blackwood of north oxford: Exposure to air pollution has various health effects on children. Short term effects of air pollution include worsening of asthma symptoms, cough, wheezing and shortness of breath. Long-term exposure can cause cardiovascular and respiratory diseases and cancer, leading to reduced life expectancy. Children are more susceptible to the effects of air pollution than adults.The effects of air pollution on children’s health are being studied in a number of research projects. For example, the Committee on the Medical Effects of Air Pollutants has started reviewing the evidence on adverse birth outcomes from air pollution. In addition, the Exploration of Health and Lungs in the Environment (EXHALE) programme, funded by the National Institute for Health Research, focuses on air pollution and children’s lung health in London.

Department for Education

Science: Higher Education

baroness miller of chilthorne domer: To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Viscount Younger of Leckie on 5 April (HL14870), what plans they have to ensure more people are encouraged to study entomology and soil science to help address the decline in insect populations and the degradation of soils.

viscount younger of leckie: As announced in the Industrial Strategy, the government is committed to growing the skills we need for a dynamic and modern economy. This includes developing a technical education system that rivals the best in the world and stands alongside our world-class academic offer. We recognise the importance of investing in the types of skills to secure the scientific grounding and technological aptitude we need to be successful as our economy changes. The government is encouraging more students into science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) education and training at all stages, starting from an early age. The early years foundation stage sets standards for the learning, development and care of children from birth to 5 years old. This includes helping young children understand the world, living things and the environment, as well as encouraging observations of animals and plants. Teachers are also encouraged to teach children about the natural, built and practical environments, for example, by providing small world equipment and taking care of flowerbeds. We have committed substantial spending on STEM skills, specifically on mathematics, digital and technical education, to increase the take-up and better teaching of STEM subjects in schools. There are also GCSEs that provide students with background knowledge relevant to agriculture-related studies, such as how humans use, modify and change ecosystems and environments in order to obtain food, energy and water. In GCSE biology, pupils will cover topics such as photosynthesis, gene technology and living organisms, which can include insects. Additionally, we introduced an environmental science A level in 2017, which includes topics such as the conservation of biodiversity.As agriculture moves towards a more technical, automated and digital mode, and demand for these skills increases, the sector has the potential to offer exciting and interesting careers. The government has committed to improving STEM careers advice in schools in the careers strategy, attached, which ensures that STEM encounters, such as with employers and apprenticeships, are built into school career programmes by updating school and college statutory guidance. The government also funds a number of programmes that aim to inspire more young people to study science subjects, such as the STEM Ambassadors programme, and the CREST awards, which engages students in STEM related projects.  



HL15111_Careers_Strategy
(PDF Document, 566.6 KB)

Ministry of Justice

Birds: Conservation

baroness miller of chilthorne domer: To ask Her Majesty's Government how many prosecutions there have been for selling birds caught in the wild in the UK during the lastfive years.

lord keen of elie: One defendant was proceeded against at magistrates’ courts for selling a wild bird, in England and Wales, between 2013 and 2017, this being in 2016. Court proceedings data for 2018 is planned for publication on 16 May 2019. Figures for Scotland and Northern Ireland would be matters for the relevant devolved administrations.

Legal Profession: Equality

lord taylor of warwick: To ask Her Majesty's Government what steps they are taking, if any, to increase diversity at UK law firms.

lord keen of elie: The legal profession in England and Wales is independent of Government. Statutory responsibility for encouraging an independent, strong, diverse and effective legal profession sits with the approved regulators, overseen by the oversight regulator, the Legal Services Board. Ministry of Justice Ministers take every opportunity to encourage the sector to ensure it more closely represents the diverse society it serves through ongoing engagement with the regulators and the legal profession.

Victim Support Schemes: Finance

lord ponsonby of shulbrede: To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord Keen of Elie on 8 April (HL14792), what financial structures are in place to govern decisions about where the Victim and Witness budget is spent; and whether they ensure that receiving organisations ring-fence the funding they receive from that budget.

lord keen of elie: The Ministry of Justice (MoJ) allocates around £96m from within its Victim and Witness Budget to fund crucial support services for victims of crime. The majority of this funding has been devolved to Police and Crime Commissioners (PCCs) as they are best placed to respond to local demands and priorities, and commission services supporting victims in their communities. This area of spend is allocated using a population based funding formula, as it is a simple and transparent method for assigning funds. This funding is provided to PCCs via grants from the MoJ, which carry the condition that the funding provided is only to be used to fund support for victims of crime and that PCCs report to the MoJ on spend within that funding. Where the MoJ directly funds and commissions support services from within its Victim and Witness budget, the money is allocated via grant funding and decisions on such funding are guided HM Treasury’s Managing Public Money publication, and overseen by the MoJs financial and accounting structures. Grant recipients need to comply with the terms of the grant and must only use their allocation for the delivery of services supporting victims of crime. Compliance with the terms of the grant is measured through bi-annual monitoring reports and annual financial accounts.

Peter Chester

lord hylton: To ask Her Majesty's Government what investigations they have carried out into the reasons for the delays that have affected the parole application and prison category of Peter Chester, currently held at HMP Full Sutton; what steps, if any, they are taking to prevent delays for life sentence prisoners who remain detained after the end of their judicial tariffs; and whether they take into account, when making parole decisions, whether hearsay evidence has prejudiced a case.

lord keen of elie: Peter Chester is currently placed in closed conditions pending a further review of his detention and his suitability for open conditions by the independent Parole Board which has commenced in line with current legislation. The Parole Board has confirmed that there is no longer a backlog when it comes to listing oral hearings for life and IPP sentence prisoners. The law provides that life sentenced prisoners are entitled to have their detention reviewed by the independent Parole Board every two years. The evidence that is considered and the weight that is given to that evidence are matters solely for the independent Parole Board.

Detainees

lord bach: To ask Her Majesty's Government what istheir definition of “detainee dignity” in the context of people who are deprived of their liberty.

lord keen of elie: The Ministry of Justice wants our prisons to be places where living conditions and behaviour towards others demonstrate our values of humanity, decency and respect as the basis for a culture of care and rehabilitation.

Prisoners' Release

lord scriven: To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have to urgently review the detention of prisoners subject to imprisonment for public protection sentences who have served their minimum tariff following reports of the numbers of those who await a decision from the Parole Board.

lord keen of elie: By law, it is for the independent Parole Board to review the detention of those prisoners serving an IPP sentence who have completed their tariff period. The Parole Board no longer has a backlog when it comes to listing cases for an oral hearing. The Board will direct the release of these prisoners only if it is satisfied that the levels of risk posed to the general public are reduced enough that the National Probation Service and its partner agencies can safely manage them in the community under supervision. Her Majesty’s Prison and Probation Service (HMPPS) have been working to improve the management and progression of prisoners serving these sentences for some time, which is evident in the increasing number of overall releases we have seen in recent years: 576 in 2016 and 616 in 2017. A joint action plan is in place, co-owned by HMPPS and the Parole Board, with the specific aim of providing opportunities for prisoners serving IPP sentences to progress to safe release. Through continuing the joint Action Plan, we are prioritising post-tariff prisoners in accessing rehabilitative interventions, including Psychology Services-led reviews in cases where there has not been satisfactory progression, and enhanced case management, for those prisoners sentenced with a complex set of risks and needs. We have also developed Progression Regimes at four prisons across the country, which are dedicated to progressing indeterminate prisoners struggling to achieve release via the usual routes. Whilst HMPPS is focused on giving all prisoners serving IPP sentences opportunities to progress towards release, public protection must remain our priority.

Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government

Local Government: Audit

lord lucas: To ask Her Majesty's Government what rules apply to the setting of a level of materiality in local authority audits; who enforces those rules; and whether a level of materiality in excess of tenper cent of a council’s annual turnover is unusual.

lord bourne of aberystwyth: Local authority auditors are required to comply with International Auditing Standards (IAS) when they set materiality thresholds for local authority audits. IAS 320 states that the auditor's determination of materiality is a matter of professional judgement and it explains that misstatements, including omissions, are considered to be material if they, individually or in the aggregate, could reasonably be expected to influence the economic decisions of users taken on the basis of the financial statements It is not our role to make a judgement on whether the materiality level set by an auditor is unusual or not. However, when setting the materiality level, the auditor should ensure their judgement is justified transparently including a demonstration of how they have designed their audit work to suit the structure and operations of local authorities If a person wants to make a complaint about the work of an auditor, in the first instance they should complain directly to the senior audit partner using the firm's complaint processes. Auditors are obligated to consider all complaints. Following that, if the complaint is not resolved, further escalation can be made to the auditor's Responsible Supervisory Body (RSB).

Ministry of Defence

Turkey: Arms Trade

lord campbell-savours: To ask Her Majesty's Government whatassessment they have made ofthe advice of the Supreme Allied Commander Europe that if Turkey proceeds to purchase the Russian S-400 air defence system it should receive no delivery of F-35 aircraft.

earl howe: The UK remains concerned by the planned purchase of S-400 by Turkey and its implications for their continued participation in the F-35 programme. As the US administration has made clear, the purchase of S-400 generates unacceptable risks around F-35. We share this risk assessment and continue to call on Turkey to reconsider its planned purchase in light of those risks and the US offer of alternative solutions to legitimate Turkish air defence requirements.

Military Aircraft: Procurement

lord campbell-savours: To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have, if any, to purchase and deploy optionally manned aircraft for the armed services.

earl howe: The UK has no formal plans to purchase optionally manned aircraft. Air programmes, such as the Combat Air Acquisition Programme (CAAP) which aims to replace Typhoon's capabilities from 2040 onwards, are assessing the potential benefits of such solutions across a range of applications.

Military Bases

lord campbell-savours: To ask Her Majesty's Government what progress has been made in implementing theBetter Defence Estate Strategy, published in 2016.

earl howe: I refer the noble Lord to the oral statement given in the House of Commons by my right hon. Friend the Minister for Defence Personnel and Veterans (Tobias Ellwood) on 28 February 2019 (Official Report, column 540) that provided an update on the work undertaken through the Defence Estate Optimisation Programme.



Defence Estate Optimisation Programme
(Word Document, 24.7 KB)

Department for Work and Pensions

Personal Care Services: Industrial Health and Safety

lord storey: To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have toensure that the toxic waste that comes from hairdressing salons in England in the form of peroxides and dyestuff is dealt with safely.

baroness buscombe: The safe use of peroxides and dyestuff by hairdressers falls within the policy remit of the Health and Safety Executive and the relevant health and safety legislation is enforced by local authority inspectors. The disposal of hazardous waste is enforced by the Environment Agency. Most products used in the hairdressing sector are considered to be ‘cosmetics’ and to be deemed safe for human use they must comply with Regulation (EC) No 1223/2009 on Cosmetic Products (recast) which are enforced by Trading Standards under The Cosmetic Products Enforcement Regulations 2013. Under the Registration Evaluation Authorisation and Restriction of Chemicals Regulations (REACH) 2006 suppliers of hazardous substances must provide users of those substances with a Safety Data Sheet (SDS). The SDS contains the information necessary to enable users to carry out a risk assessment as required by the Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations (COSHH) 2002 including how the product can be used, stored and disposed of safely.

River Stour: Insecticides

lord patten: To ask Her Majesty's Government whether the annual treatment of the River Stour in Dorset to prevent infestations of theBlandford Fly is effective; and what is their assessment of the risks of that treatment, if any, to (1) human, (2) animal, and (3) plant life.

baroness buscombe: Local monitoring by General Practitioners of the incidence of bites in the 1990s showed a decline. Whether this was due to the annual treatments cannot be proved conclusively. Dorset Council is undertaking a trial into the effectiveness of a biocidal product against the Blandford Fly. The Health and Safety Executive’s assessment of the product in question, conducted as part of providing an authorisation for its use, concluded that the risks for humans, non-target animals and the wider environment were acceptable.

Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

Animal Products: Imports

lord hanningfield: To ask Her Majesty's Government what estimate they have made of the number of animal hunting trophies entering the UK each year.

lord gardiner of kimble: Details of the import permits issued by the Animal and Plant Health Agency are available through the CITES Trade Database. In 2017, 57 import permits were issued for game hunting trophies. We do not hold data for species that are not CITES listed as an import permit in that case is not required.

Foxes

lord hanningfield: To ask Her Majesty's Government what estimatethey have made of the number of foxes killed each year in the UK, broken down by means of killing; and what advice they have provided, if any, on the disposal or sale of fox carcasses and skins.

lord gardiner of kimble: The Government’s policy is that individuals should be free to manage wildlife within the law. The decision on whether or not to control foxes lies with the owner or occupier of the property where the problem occurs. As a result, the Government does not collect data on the number of foxes killed or how they are killed. However, in 2000 the Burns Report estimated that 400,000 foxes die each year in Britain – on roads, shot or through natural causes. The Government would always encourage those considering taking management action to try preventative strategies to deter foxes. However, we recognise it may be necessary to cull individual animals who are causing persistent problems. Natural England provides detailed advice on the humane and legal management of foxes to help owners and occupiers protect their property from damage.

Air Pollution: Children

the earl of listowel: To ask Her Majesty's Government what action they are taking, if any, to address the (1) short-term, and (2) long-term, risks of air pollution to children's health.

lord gardiner of kimble: All of the measures set out in the Clean Air Strategy will reduce emissions of pollution, improving public health for children. In the short term, the Government has a plan to improve air quality and reduce harmful emissions with funding of £3.5 billion, which includes £495 million for local councils to improve air quality. Part of this funding is specifically for local authorities with very high NO2 emissions to bid for. Local authorities are best placed to target action to improve local air quality. The Government’s air quality grant programme provides funding to local authorities for projects in local communities to tackle air pollution and reduce emissions, which may include action targeting schools. Defra has awarded over £57 million in funding since the air quality grant started in 1997. A further £3 million has been allocated for 2018/19. In the long term, some of the measures the Government are taking include ending the sale of new diesel and petrol cars and vans by 2040. The Road to Zero strategy sets out new measures to help us achieve our 2040 mission. The Department for Transport has also announced that diesel-fuelled trains will no longer be used by 2040. Other measures are included in the Clean Air Strategy.

Birds: Conservation

baroness miller of chilthorne domer: To ask Her Majesty's Government under what circumstances it is legal to sell wild UK species of birds as caged birds.

lord gardiner of kimble: It is an offence to sell, offer for sale, possess or transport for sale or exchange, any live bird unless it is a species listed, as a bird which may be sold, in part 1 of schedule 3 to the Wildlife and Countryside Act. To be legally sold the bird must be bred in captivity and be fitted with a closed leg ring. The international commercial trade in certain species of wild caught birds also needs to comply with the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) to which the UK is party and which is implemented in the UK through the EU Wildlife Trade Regulations. This is a multilateral environment agreement which aims to ensure that trade in endangered species does not threaten their survival by controlling international trade in these specimens through a licensing system. CITES prohibits nearly all international trade in wild caught specimens of the most at risk species which are listed on Appendix I. Species that are not currently threatened with extinction but for which uncontrolled trade would not be sustainable, are included on CITES Appendix II and can only be traded internationally with the correct permits. These permits will only be granted if their trade is considered not to be detrimental to the survival of the species in the wild.

Birds: Conservation

baroness miller of chilthorne domer: To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they monitor the internet regularly for evidence of a rise in criminal activity with regard to birds caught in the wild; and if so, whathas been the result of such monitoring.

lord gardiner of kimble: The enforcement of all offences, including wildlife offences, is an operational matter for the police. The police monitor and gather intelligence on online activity relating to crimes against birds and other wildlife to inform their investigations.

Water: Pollution

baroness miller of chilthorne domer: To ask Her Majesty's Government what research they have conducted into the pollution of watercourses by antibiotics for both humans and livestockin the lastfive years; and what were the findings of any such research.

lord gardiner of kimble: The Environment Agency (EA) monitors several antibiotics in watercourses as part of a surveillance network of substances on an EU Watch List. This dataset as a whole is collated across Europe to assess the level of exposure and prioritise substances for future inclusion under the Water Framework Directive. If selected, Europe wide environmental quality standards will be developed and implemented through this process. The EA has over the last five years continued working with the water industry via United Kingdom Water Industry Research to understand better and quantify levels of antibiotics in pre- and post-treatment effluents from sewage treatment works. This will continue in the next phase of work due to start in 2020. Together these have demonstrated that: Antibiotics are present in effluents and watercourses and will need to be assessed against any future environmental quality standards.Wastewater treatment processes in common usage remove a relatively small proportion of the antibiotics studied (compared to other substances in effluents) before release into the environment. A study report, reference number 18/EQ/01/13, is available from United Kingdom Water Industry Research https://www.ukwir.org/eng/search-uk-water-industry-research-reports.

Water: Pollution

baroness miller of chilthorne domer: To ask Her Majesty's Government what research they have conducted into the pollution of watercourses by hormones contained in human waste.

lord gardiner of kimble: The Environment Agency (EA) has worked over the last five years with the water industry via United Kingdom Water Industry Research (UKWIR) to understand better and quantify levels of hormones in pre- and post-treatment effluents containing human waste from wastewater treatment works. This will continue in the next phase of work due to start in 2020. A study report, reference number 18/EQ/01/13, is available from UKWIR https://www.ukwir.org/eng/search-uk-water-industry-research-reports The EA also monitors hormones in watercourses as part of a surveillance network of substances on an EU Watch List.

Water: Pollution

baroness miller of chilthorne domer: To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they are aware of evidence that demonstratesthe adverse effects on aquatic wildlife of hormones that have entered watercourses from treated sewage.

lord gardiner of kimble: The Environment Agency (EA) has previously carried out an extensive research programme into the feminising effects of hormones in treated sewage on wild roach populations (Rutilus rutilus) (https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/the-identification-of-oestrogenic-effects-in-wild-fish).  In the autumn of 2019 the EA will be publishing the results of research undertaken recently to investigate the current levels of feminisation in similar fish populations, as a comparison to the previous study.

Glyphosate

baroness kennedy of cradley: To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the effects of using glyphosate as part of wider integrated pest management systems.

lord gardiner of kimble: Glyphosate is approved for use as a herbicide following a thorough scientific assessment which showed that it is not expected to harm people or to have unacceptable effects on the environment. Each authorised glyphosate product has specific conditions of authorisation which are set out on the product label. There are also general rules on the safe storage and use of pesticides. Integrated Pest Management (IPM) aims to design farming systems to minimise the need for pesticides, including herbicides, and to make use of alternative approaches such as tailored crop husbandry and the use of natural predators. The 25 Year Environment Plan includes a Government commitment to put IPM at the heart of a holistic approach, by developing and implementing policies that encourage and support sustainable crop protection with the minimum use of pesticides. Integrated weed management combines complementary weed control methods such as grazing, herbicide application and land fallowing. Following cereal harvest, cultivations are often used with well-timed glyphosate applications to manage grass weed populations prior to drilling the next cereal crop. This strategy, together with delaying drilling, can reduce the reliance on herbicides within the next crop. It can also reduce the risk of resistance development to any herbicides used subsequently. The use of complementary weed control methods in alternation with or instead of glyphosate is addressed on product labels. The Government also participates in the UK Weed Resistance Action Group, which has produced recent guidance on managing the risk of glyphosate resistance, and recommends a number of IPM methods when using or considering using glyphosate. These principles are relevant to the use of glyphosate in agriculture and horticulture, but also in amenity situations.

Home Office

Immigration Controls

lord alton of liverpool: To ask Her Majesty's Government what restrictions are in place to prevent people who incite hatred against minority groups from travelling to the UK; and what plans they have, if any, to introduce new restrictions.

baroness williams of trafford: The Home Secretary has the power to exclude from the UK individuals who engage in unacceptable behaviour, including those who express or encourage views which may foster hatred and lead to inter-community violence in the UK.The Immigration Rules also provide for the refusal of entry clearance or leave to enter at the border if someone’s character, conduct or associations mean it is undesirable to grant them entry to the United Kingdom.There are no plans to introduce further powers to prevent people who incite hatred against minority groups from travelling to the UK.

Organised Crime: Rural Areas

lord birt: To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Baroness Williams of Trafford on 21 January (HL12535), what assessment they have made of the key trends in organised acquisitive crime in rural areas, in terms of (1) the volume, and (2) the different categories of such crime.

baroness williams of trafford: The Crime Survey for England and Wales (CSEW) continues to show that, for those crimes covered by the CSEW, people in rural areas are less likely to be the victims of crime than those in urban areas. Property crime tables published by the Office for National Statistics on 28 February this year show that, according to CSEW interviews in the year to March 2018, people living in rural areas were less likely to be the victims of: bicycle theft, domestic burglary, other household theft, robbery, personal theft and vehicle-related theft.Details can be found at: https://www.ons.gov.uk/peoplepopulationandcommunity/crimeandjustice/datasets/focusonpropertycrimeappendixtables

Entry Clearances: Overseas Students

lord lexden: To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have to reconsider the requirement that independent educational institutions which establish new sixth forms must wait two years before accepting students from countries outside the EUunder the Home Office’s Tier 4 visa arrangements.

baroness williams of trafford: All education institutions which want to recruit international students must demonstrate both a strong record of immigration compliance, by gaining Tier 4 Sponsor status, and a high educational quality, by undergoing an assessment of their educational standards by an independent inspectorate.This independent educational oversight ensures that only genuine high-quality institutions can sponsor students under the Tier 4 visa arrangements, protecting the UK’s international reputation for excellent educational standards.A private education provider must have been continuously teaching a course of study that meets Tier 4 requirements to UK or EEA students for two years prior to its inspection. This ensures that such providers receive a meaningful inspection of their teaching provision, and that only genuine private education providers can become Tier 4 sponsors.The two-year requirement does not apply to other types of Tier 4 sponsor, because they are subject to different statutory inspection arrangements. In the case of independent schools, these include consideration of the institution’s ability to safeguard children. These requirements ensure that international students continue to receive a high-quality education in the UK.

Immigration: EU Nationals

lord taylor of warwick: To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the impact that a lack of understanding of the settled status scheme could have on the ability of EU citizens to rent properties in the UK.

baroness williams of trafford: The Government has made clear that the current arrangements for landlords conducting checks on EU nationals, involving the use of national passports and identity cards, will not change prior to introduction of the future skills-based immigration system.The Home Office has engaged with a wide range of groups on the design of the EU Settlement Scheme. We will continue to engage widely as we develop and implement other aspects of the future system. Updated guidance for landlords will be published shortly.Prior to the full launch of the EU Settlement Scheme on Saturday March 30, the Home Office launched a new nationwide marketing campaign to encourage EU citizens to apply to the scheme.We are using all available channels to reach our audiences. No one will be left behind which is why we are working in partnership with vulnerable group representatives, local authorities and other experts to make sure we reach everyone.

Islamic State: Crimes against Humanity

lord alton of liverpool: To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Baroness Williams of Trafford on 8 April (HL14768), whether the individuals they assessed as no longer being of national security concern were prosecuted for participation or complicity in Daesh atrocities; and if not, why not.

baroness williams of trafford: I cannot comment on individual cases. Decisions about investigation and prosecution are taken independently of Government by the police and Crown Prosecution Service on a case by case basis.Any individual who has travelled overseas to engage in conflict will be subject to investigation, and where there is evidence that crimes have been committed, they should expect to face prosecution.

Offensive Weapons: Sales

baroness brady: To ask Her Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to prevent the online sale of machetes in the UK.

baroness williams of trafford: In 2016, the Government agreed a set of commitments with major retailers to prevent the underage sales of knives, including machetes, in their stores and online. This also covered staff training, the display and packaging of knives. A number of major retailers have signed up to this, including Tesco, eBay UK, Lidl UK, Amazon UK, Wilko, Argos, Asda, Poundland, Morrisons, Sainsbury’s, John Lewis, Waitrose, Boots, the Co-op, B&Q, Aldi, TKMaxx and Debenhams. We continue to work with retailers to strengthen the agreement, including in relation to the display of these products in stores.It is an offence to sell articles with a blade, which includes machetes, to a person under 18, whether that be face to face or online. In addition, the Offensive Weapons Bill will further strengthen the law, with specific new knives offences, including making it an offence to possess certain offensive weapons in private, and stopping bladed products being sent to residential addresses after they are bought online unless the seller has made arrangements with a delivery person or company not to hand that item over to a person under 18 at that address.This means that businesses will still be able to sell and dispatch bladed products, which could include machetes, to residential addresses, but they will need to have the necessary arrangements in place to ensure that their products are not delivered into the hands of anyone aged under 18.

Internet: Radicalism

baroness smith of gilmorehill: To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have to introducelegislation to create a new regulatory framework to ensure that online platforms take action to prevent extremist content.

baroness williams of trafford: On 8 April, the Government published the Online Harms White Paper, which sets out our plans for world-leading legislation to make the UK the safest place in the world to go online. Companies will be held to account for tackling a comprehensive set of online harms, including terrorist and extremist content.We intend to establish in law a new duty of care on companies towards their users, overseen by an independent regulator. This regulator will set clear safety standards, backed up by mandatory reporting requirements and effective enforcement powers.The Government is consulting on a number of proposals in the White Paper and will bring forward legislation as soon as parliamentary time allows.

Nitrous Oxide

lord vaux of harrowden: To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the proportion of nitrous oxide sold for catering purposes but used for recreational purposes; whether they consider the recreational use of nitrous oxide to be harmful or to be a gateway drug amongst young people; and whether they have any plans to tighten the rules relating to the supply of nitrous oxide.

baroness williams of trafford: The Government has not made an assessment of the proportion of nitrous oxide sold for catering purposes and subsequently diverted into the illicit market.The Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs considered nitrous oxide in 2015 and concluded that there is evidence that the use of nitrous oxide, other than in line with designated guidance and for the purposes other than for which it was manufactured, can cause harm. Evidence is not available on whether nitrous oxide is a gateway drug to other harmful substances.Under the Psychoactive Substances Act 2016 those who supply nitrous oxide for recreational use, or who are reckless as to whether it will used for its psychoactive effect, are subject to a maximum sentence of seven years’ imprisonment.In 2017/18, there were 95 seizures of nitrous oxide by police forces in England and Wales. Since the PSA came into force in 2016, over 300 retailers across the United Kingdom have either closed down or are no longer selling psychoactive substances; police have arrested suppliers; and action by the National Crime Agency has resulted in the removal of psychoactive substances being sold by UK based websites. In 2016, there were a total of 28 convictions in England and Wales under the PSA and seven people jailed under the new powers. This rose to 152 convictions in 2017 with 62 people immediately sent to custody.The Government has no plans to change the law further in relation to this substance.In relation to drug misuse more broadly, on 8 February, the Government announced the appointment of Professor Dame Carol Black to lead a wide-ranging review of drugs. In its initial stage it will look at who drug users are, what they are taking and how often to build the most in-depth and comprehensive picture of this issue to date. The review, which will build on existing government strategies to combat drugs, serious violence and serious and organised crime, will examine the harms that drugs cause and the best ways to prevent drug-taking.

Police: Data Protection

lord scriven: To ask Her Majesty's Government what action they plan to take following the Information Commissioner’s Office raising concerns that the introduction of technology allowing the police to gather data from mobile phones or laptops by overriding passwords may be unlawful.

baroness williams of trafford: The Government is not aware of any specific concerns from the Information Commissioner’s Office regarding the use of technology to override pass-words in England and Wales. There are currently no plans to change legislation.

Department for Exiting the European Union

Brexit

lord pearson of rannoch: To ask Her Majesty's Government further to the Written Answer by Lord Callanan on 1 April (HL14872), whether they will now answer the question originally asked, namely, further to the Written Answer by Lord Callanan on 21 March (HL14601), whether, under the proposed deal, the UK can decide unilaterally to leave the EU.

lord callanan: The UK took the unilateral decision to leave the EU when it triggered Article 50 TEU. The proposed deal, when ratified, will see us leave the EU, taking full control of our money, borders and laws.

Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport

Voluntary Work: Young People

lord ouseley: To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the relevance and effectiveness of the National Citizen Service in meeting the particular needs of vulnerable young people in disadvantaged communities.

lord ashton of hyde: NCS is a programme that successfully reaches young people from all backgrounds. We have made no specific assessment of the relevance and effectiveness of NCS in meeting the needs of vulnerable young people in disadvantaged communities, but we do know that participants from vulnerable and minority groups are overrepresented on the programme. In 2018, 16% of participants were eligible for Free School Meals, 31% were from Black and Minority Ethnic backgrounds and 5% had Special Educational Needs* compared to 12%, 25% and 2% of the comparative population respectively. Work is ongoing to reach the most marginalised young people. The NCS Trust has established strong links with Local Authorities to support the hardest to reach young people in accessing the programme; provide specialist support during the programme; and help young people access opportunities after NCS. The NCS Trust has also introduced a central inclusion fund, so that its network partners can apply for funding to support young people with additional needs to access the NCS programme. * The final 2018 participation figures are still subject to ongoing compliance checks.

Voluntary Work: Young People

lord ouseley: To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the impact of the creation of the National Citizen Service on the funding available for youth services.

lord ashton of hyde: The decision to fund local youth services lies with Local Authorities, not with central government. NCS is a universal offer funded by central government, that is accessible to all young people and is designed to support, and not cut across other services. It is delivered via a network of over 100 local delivery partners, many of which are local youth organisations. As such, we have made no specific assessment of the impact of the creation of NCS on the funding available for youth services.

Youth Services: Closures

lord ouseley: To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the impact (1) of the closure of youth service provision across the country, and (2) of the closure of youth services on the rise of knife and violent crimes.

lord ashton of hyde: Government recognises that the causes of youth crime are complex and are often tied to local factors. Local authorities allocate funding and deliver youth services in line with local need. The Government has made over £200bn available to local authorities to spend on local services over this Spending Review.The Government is committed to making sure young people have opportunities to develop their skills and benefit from youth services, which are an important partner in the strategy to tackle the root causes of serious violence.My department will continue to work closely with the Home Office on the implementation of the Serious Violence Strategy.

Tourism: Coastal Areas

lord taylor of warwick: To ask Her Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to increase levels of tourism in UK coastal communities after Brexit.

lord ashton of hyde: We have invested in product development through the Coastal Communities and Revival Funds which recently announced a further £63m of funding, and the £40m Discover England Fund. We are also negotiating the proposed Tourism Sector Deal with the industry which aims to improve productivity. The House of Lords Select Committee recently reported on Regenerating Seaside Towns and we will be responding to any tourism related recommendations in due course. Our arms-length body VisitBritain (VB) also markets the UK internationally, using campaigns such as “I travel for…” and #MyMicroGap. Additionally VB work with coastal Destination Management Organisations around the country, including sitting on the Coastal Tourism Leadership Forum to identify challenges and opportunities as they arise.